Fables & Other Lies - Claire Contreras Page 0,44
seaplane would have gone down on a perfectly sunny, cloudless day?” She raised an eyebrow. “Unless . . . ”
“Unless what?”
“Unless someone caused it.”
“What are you saying?” My heart thumped louder, in my ears, in my chest.
“Exactly what you think I’m saying.” Mayra raised an eyebrow, smiling as she walked away.
I looked at River, who was talking to his friend. He couldn’t have caused the accident, could he? How? And my cousin? How would he have died here? I shook my head. Mayra was untrustworthy. I wasn’t going to take her word for what actually happened with the accident. She’d wanted me gone from the moment I got here. After a moment, I walked over to River.
“Oh please, all of us are immigrants here. Our ancestors all arrived from someplace else.” That was River, still speaking to his friend behind me.
“Some of our ancestors didn’t have a choice in the matter,” I said.
“Here we go.” River shook his head. “So, now you’re blaming me for something some of my ancestors had a hand in?” River raised an eyebrow.
“Not blaming. Simply pointing out facts.”
“She’s not wrong.” The guy smiled, giving me a slow once-over. “What’s your name, sweetheart?”
“Penelope and I’m not a sweetheart.”
“She’s not wrong. This one bites,” River said, bringing his hand down to mine and threading his fingers through mine again.
His friend’s brows rose. “Just when I think River Caliban can’t do something that surprises me, he goes and gets himself a girlfriend.”
“I am not his girlfriend.” I tried taking my hand from River’s, but he held on tighter. I glanced up at River and smiled. “You can try to hold on as tight as you want, but I’ll still slip through your fingers.”
“I have no doubt that you will, but I won’t let that happen until I’m done with you.” His mouth pulled into a slow, lazy grin that didn’t reach his eyes. “And I’m not done with you yet.”
Chapter Fifteen
The doorbell rang loudly, an eight-note chime that was familiar because most people I knew on Pan had the same one. We all turned our attention to the door just in time to see Dee, Martín, Jose, and a guy I didn’t know walk through it. I felt myself breathe a little easier, and let go of River’s hand again. This time, he let me. I beelined over to the front door and fell into Dee’s arms when she opened hers the moment she saw me.
“Are you okay?” she asked quietly. “You look stunning.”
“I’m fine.” I pulled away and looked at her. She was wearing a black ballgown with a V-neck that plunged near her belly button. “You look amazing.”
“Thank you.” She smiled, eyeing my necklace. “What is this you’re wearing?”
“River loaned it to me.”
“Wow.” She let out a sighed laugh. “So, is it safe to assume he’s not so bad?”
“The verdict is still out.”
“But you’re safe?” She searched my eyes.
“I mean, if you think being in a gloomy house that’s falling apart under the same roof as a jilted ex-lover who wants to kill you safe, sure.”
“What?”
“She’s not my ex-lover.” That was River, who had snuck up behind us and made us both jump.
“She does want to kill me though,” I said.
“Oh. Wow,” Dee said, turning to look at River. “You look wow.”
“Yeah, you look hot, but you already knew that,” Jose added to River and then me, giving me a quick hug. “This is my date, Ricardo.”
“Nice to meet you, Ricardo.” I gave him a kiss on the cheek, and turned to Martín to kiss him on the cheek as well.
“You clean up nice as well.”
“Especially for this gala,” Martín said, looking around in awe. “It’s just as creepy as I thought it would be.” He looked at me. “Is it haunted?”
“I . . . don’t know.” I frowned. I’d seen something in the bathroom for sure, but not a person, not a ghost.
“Too bad,” he said. “The Haunt would flip out if they knew you were in here.”
“Maybe you should stay a little longer, Penelope, for the sake of The Haunt,” River said, his eyes dancing.
“Yeah, no, I don’t think so.” I pursed my lips.
He let out a laugh. “I need to show you something. I do hope you all enjoy yourselves. Please grab drinks.” He grabbed my hand again and escorted me away from my friends. I only had time to glance over my shoulder and see Dee’s smile of approval as she nodded.
“Where are we going?” I asked as he led me down